Manchester United’s defeat to Danish minnows FC Midtjylland in the Europa League on Thursday night represented a new low in Louis van Gaal’s reign at Old Trafford and a real indication into just how dire things are for the historic club.

Reports in the press since have suggested that senior figures in the playing squad are questioning their manager, with former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho favoured to come and host football training drills to get the team back winning.

Despite Van Gaal possessing an enviable track record, experience and tactical acumen, it is clear after 18 months in charge that the club is not moving forward under his stewardship.

United fans have become accustomed to a certain brand of attacking football, which has been sacrificed in the name of progress by the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss.

In the first half of the season when the Red Devils were not playing well but grinding out results, the stale nature of performances could be accepted to some degree.

However, with flat showings being compounded by embarrassing results of late, Van Gaal is surely on his last legs in Manchester.

It is not an issue of not having the right quality of players, needing extra endurance training or issues of luck – the Dutchman simply isn’t getting the best from the personnel at his disposal.

At this stage, Van Gaal has had adequate time and expenditure in the transfer market to turn things round, with it now time for a change.

Whether Mourinho is the man to bring United back to the glory days remains to be seen, but one thing is evident – just how good a job Sir Alex Ferguson did over such a long time at the club.